Bird Center - digital images

Photograph

Saugatuck Douglas Historical Society

Bird Center #1

Origsize: 6"x4"

Name/Title

Bird Center - digital images

Entry/Object ID

2018.07.09

Description

Eight postcards of Bird Center, a group of cottages on Lake Street. At least one cottage dates back to 1900 as it has the date scratched in the kitchen window. It was owned by the Bancrofts who added more cottages. By 1906 it was owned by Thomas Benton and Alberdine Dates and they called it Hillcrest Cottages. Some of the guests said it reminded them of John T.McGutcheons cartoons in the Tribune so they ran a sign up the flag pole with Bird Center on it and the name stuck. From that time on the houses took on bird names. In 1924 Elsie and Cary Bird bought the resort. In 1935 they were made into housekeeping cottages. In 1952, Bert and Jane Bird Van Dis took it over. They sold it to Dick Hoffman who separated the property and sold the river portion, part of which in now condos. The rest was later sold it to Vanden Broek. This entry also includes scans of photos of Bird Center from Jane Van Dis.

Photograph Details

Type of Photograph

Digital scan

Subject Person or Organization

Bird Center Resort

Collection

1930+ Tourism, lodging, hotels and B&Bs

Cataloged By

Voss, Mary

Acquisition

Accession

2018.07

Source or Donor

Found in the SDHS/SDHC collection

Acquisition Method

Donation

Made/Created

Artist

unknown

Date made

1940 - 1950

Lexicon

Search Terms

Buildings, Resorts, Bird Center resort Saugatuck, MI

Location

Binder

Postcard Binder 1 street scenes buildings

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

General Notes

Note

Notes: History of the Bird Center is included in the property file. 625 & 584 Lake Street. Status: OK Status By: Mary Voss Status Date: 2018-04-16

Create Date

April 16, 2018

Update Date

April 25, 2025